Paul Lambert hoping Gabriel Agbonlahor can hit goal trail for Aston Villa
Friday 09 November 2012
Related articles
-
Premier League: Aston Villa v Manchester United match preview
-
Aston Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi returns from suspension to face Manchester United
-
Gabriel Agbonlahor pledges future to Aston Villa amid Sunderland speculation
-
Christian Benteke can have 'big future' says Aston Villa team-mate Gabriel Agbonlahor
Paul Lambert believes Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is back to his best as he looks to mastermind a rare victory for the midlands club against Manchester United at Villa Park tomorrow.
Villa have beaten the Red Devils only seven times in 58 clashes in all competitions during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
But one of those wins was courtesy of an Agbonlahor goal in a shock 1-0 result at Old Trafford three years ago.
The striker, who won three England caps earlier in his career, has looked sharp in recent weeks after returning from a pre-season knee ligament injury and scored the only goal in last weekend's win at Sunderland.
Lambert said: "I think Gabby at this minute in time is playing extremely well.
"There is a belief that he's starting to hit top form and is definitely a real handful. He's really quick.
"When he gets up to speed, he is a handful. If he can get goals to go with his game, he will be really fine.
"Gabby and Christian (Benteke) look a threat. The two of them are a handful at the moment for anybody."
Lambert is relishing rather than being fearful of a run of fixtures which sees Villa face United, Manchester City and Arsenal in successive weeks.
He said: "Any game in the Premier League is really tough whether you are playing Manchester United, Manchester City or anyone else.
"They are the fixtures we have to play next and you get on with it. It's something I will look forward to, not something I will think, 'Oh here we go'.
"I know the task of it and the team know the task of it, but on any given day you just don't know what can happen.
"To beat someone like United you need a bit of luck.
"We also have to believe that we can win. The belief in the football team at the minute is there.
"We are going to have to play well against them that's for sure."
Lambert is also taking encouragement from Villa's own recent performances.
He said: "We've been on a bit of run. When you get a bit of a run or achieve a good result, everyone comes in for the week feeling buoyant. This week has been no different.
"We are doing really fine. They are a young team but I think they are starting to get there."
Lambert has the utmost respect for Ferguson and believes the length of his fellow Scot's reign at Old Trafford is something that will never again be equalled in football.
He said: "I don't think 26 years, or however long he will go on in the job, will ever be done again.
"It's a phenomenal record and also fantastic achievements, not just domestically but in European terms.
"The players they have got, and the football club it is now, Sir Alex has built. It's an incredible achievement what he has done there.
"It's a phenomenal thing he has done both on the pitch and off in terms of building up the club. It's a global thing, the club. It's all down to him that's for sure."
Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi will return after a one-match ban but defender Eric Lichaj will be banned from facing the Red Devils after reaching his fifth yellow card of the campaign.
Lichaj's fellow left-back Joe Bennett is struggling to overcome a knee injury so Enda Stevens is in contention to play. Striker Darren Bent is again absent with his ankle injury.
PA
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
Brits on fire in the wet at Le Mans!
Wow - what a weekend for British Motorcycle racing!
by Luke Wilkins
22 May 2013 05:00 AM
iBet: Bale and Rooney transfer specials
The dust is barely settling on the Premier League season and the bookies are looking to persuade us ...
by Gareth Purnell
22 May 2013 02:01 AM
A changing of the guards in English football: From Sir Alex Ferguson to Jose Mourinho
The guard has changed at Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years. Meanwhile, down the road, the ...
by The Sports Lawyer
21 May 2013 10:01 PM
-
Sergio Garcia at centre of racism row as dispute with Tiger Woods continues
-
Gaël Clichy: Roberto Mancini must take share of blame for dismissal
-
Exclusive: Championship clubs set to push for safe-standing trials
-
Phil Neville in frame for role at Stoke City
-
Andy Carroll stalls on £15m move to West Ham in hope Newcastle step in
- 1 Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
- 2 Swedes set up 'ultimate Viking movie'
- 3 After woman sells virginity for $780,000, here are the results of our prostitution survey
- 4 China agrees to impose carbon targets by 2016
- 5 Far-right French historian, 78-year-old Dominique Venner, commits suicide in Notre Dame in protest against gay marriage
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’
Why clubs are keen to take a stand



Comments